The rehabilitation effort by the San Diego Redevelopment Agency and Wakeland Housing and Development Corp. opened its doors last week on Bonillo Drive, just a few blocks east of University and College avenues.

Village Green Apartments comprises 78 two-bedroom and 14 three-bedroom units available to individuals and families at or below 60 percent of the area’s median income. More than 80 percent of residents there satisfy the criteria, which for families of four totals $47,100.

Mayor Jerry Sanders, who serves as executive director of the Redevelopment Agency, touted the project’s incorporation of eco-friendly materials, calling it a model of sustainability, water conservation and energy efficiency.

“This is really what the city of San Diego needs to be doing, creating partnerships,” he said.

First constructed in 1966, the 7-acre complex has improved laundry facilities, a community room, pool and showers and modern playground equipment. Sustainable elements include energy and water-saving fixtures and appliances, landscape irrigation and a synthetic playground lawn.

State law mandates at least 15 percent of new housing developed in redevelopment project areas be affordable to low- and moderate-income households. And 40 percent of those units must be affordable to very-low income households.

Ken Sauder, president and chief executive of Wakeland Housing and Development, said the city’s housing commission contributed $2.1 million. The roughly $5.8 million from the Redevelopment Agency was pooled from neighboring project areas.

Solar panels line the roof, and several key safety features were based on recommendation from the San Diego Police Department. Councilwoman Marti Emerald, whose district is home to half of the redevelopment project areas including Rolando, said the project supported 45 jobs during the 10 months of construction.

Emerald, chairwoman of the council’s Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, said she was “especially pleased that the developer worked with the San Diego Police Department to make Village Green safer,” with an on-site police substation, surveillance cameras, security screen doors and enhanced lighting.

“At a time when we talk about where the economy is going and public-private partnerships, this is the model right here,” she said. “As we walk through this community, this is the idea of how government and private industry work together and achieve great things.”